Mentality of Servanthood – Love Cloud Daily

4 August 2012, Saturday

1 Kings 19:4-8

Psalm 34:2-9

Ephesians 4:30 — 5:2

The Holy Gospel according to Matthew 14:1-12

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus; and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist, he has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him.” For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison, for the sake of Hero’di-as, his brother Philip’s wife; because John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Hero’di-as danced before the company, and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And the king was sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came and took the body and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.

Mentality of Servanthood

Serving in the community has brought so much changes and realizations in each one of us. It enriched our lives with the Lord and it transformed all our lifestyles, beliefs and principles. But the question is, in being a servant, what should be really your mindset?

There is a great mental shift and change in attitude required in being a servant. God has been always interested in why are we doing something that in what what we do. It is on how we perceive and react on things that He counts. And humility is an important factor that we should consider in entering servanthood.

A servant think more about others than about themselves. True humility is not thinking less about others but thinking of ourselves less. Servants are self-forgetful. When we begin to stop focusing on our own needs that we become aware of the needs around us. A servant has to empty one’s self to benefit another. One cannot serve if he is full of himself. It’s only when we forget ourselves that we do things selflessly for the others. There are times when people try to use service as a bargaining tool with God: “I’ll do this God but you have to promise to do this for me.” Real servants don’t try to use God for their purposes. They let God use them for His purposes.

Servants should think the community as an opportunity rather than an obligation. One should enjoy helping people, meeting their needs and fulfilling what the Lord has in store for the ministry. We should serve the Lord with pure gladness. Jesus promised, “The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.”

Imagine a world where all the Christians will actually consider getting serious with their roles as real servants. Imagine people forgetting about themselves and helping fulfill the needs of other people. Or just imagine all Christians kept on just doing good things?

Are you willing to be one of those people? Are you willing to change your mindset? It doesn’t matter who you are, what you do and what your ages is. As long as God knows that you will begin to think and act as a servant that He will use you.

As to what Albert Schweitzer once said, “The only real happy people are those who have learned how to serve.”

Writer: JCD | Artist: Leo Zarsaga